Alignment restoration device for load transporting apparatus

An apparatus for transporting a load bearing frame, the apparatus comprising:

• a support foot;
• means for raising and lowing the support foot relative to a load bearing frame;
• a roller assembly operably coupled to the means for raising and lowering, wherein the roller assembly is positioned above the support foot;
• means for moving the load bearing frame relative to the support foot such that an angular displacement occurs between a centerline of the support foot and an orientation of the load bearing frame;
• and
• biasing means configured to elastically deform in response to the angular displacement, wherein the resulting elastic deformation of the biasing means provides a biasing force that operates to realign the centerline of the support foot relative to the orientation of the load bearing frame.

A method comprising:

• raising, with a lift mechanism, a load bearing frame relative to a transport surface, wherein the load bearing frame is supported above the transport surface by a support foot;
• activating a travel mechanism operably coupled to the lift mechanism, wherein a roller assembly positioned above the support foot is configured to allow for movement of the load bearing frame over the transport surface in response to activating the travel mechanism;
• angularly displacing an orientation of the load bearing frame relative to a centerline of the support foot as the load bearing frame moves over the transport surface, resulting in an elastic deformation of one or more biasing devices that creates a biasing force;
• and
• realigning the centerline of the support foot relative to the orientation of the load bearing frame in response to an application of the biasing force.

A system for moving a load bearing frame over a transport surface, the system comprising:

• a first support foot comprising a centerline;
• a first roller assembly operably coupled to the first support foot and configured to move in a first direction;
• a lift mechanism operably coupled to the roller assembly and configured to lift and lower the first support foot relative to the load bearing frame;
• a travel mechanism operably coupled to the roller assembly;
• a second support foot;
• a second roller assembly operably coupled to the second support foot and configured to move in a second direction, wherein the second direction is different than the first direction, and wherein the simultaneous movement of the first roller assembly in the first direction and the second roller assembly in the second direction causes the load bearing frame to move in a spin steering mode;
• and
• one or more biasing devices, wherein in response to a non-linear displacement of the first roller assembly relative to the first support foot during the spin steering mode, an orientation of the load bearing frame moves out of alignment relative to the centerline of the first support foot, resulting in an elastic deformation of the one or more biasing devices that creates a biasing force that operates to realign the centerline of the first support foot with the orientation of the load bearing frame.